Waukee COO Rose resigns after arrest

Former Chief Operating Officer for the Waukee Community School District Eric Rose resigned after being charged with three felonies. The Waukee School Board accepted Rose’s resignation on Monday morning.

The Waukee Community School District Board of Education issued this statement after Monday’s meeting:

“The Waukee Community School District Board of Education voted on Monday, December 17, at a special meeting to accept the immediate resignation of Eric Rose as chief operations officer. This resignation was submitted and approved in lieu of a termination recommendation previously scheduled to be brought to the Board on Monday by Superintendent Cindi McDonald.

As part of the separation agreement, the Board will be paying Rose his earned vacation days. Rose has provided the District a full release of all claims and has agreed to a covenant not to bring legal action against the District in the future.

The District decided to accept Rose’s resignation in lieu of termination in an effort to put immediate closure to this matter and help ensure that District staff can now remain focused on the positive work they are doing for the students of this District and not be further distracted by potential claims, suits or other issues related to Mr. Rose and his employment with the District.”

Whether or not this decision brings “immediate closure” to this matter remains to be seen as parents, staff and former staff of Waukee schools certainly have questions left unanswered.

State Senator Charles Schneider reacted to Rose’s arrest on Facebook:

“One of the outcomes I wanted to see from the Waukee School District audit that Rep. Rob Taylor and I requested is that anyone who violated the law be held accountable,” Sen. Schneider wrote. “I’m glad to see that is starting to happen.”